Mancos State Park: Small but Beautiful!
Mancos State Park may be small, but it is mighty beautiful! With a stunning reservoir for boating, fishing, or hiking around, you’ll love the peaceful water. And with a campground that’s perfect for relaxing, you won’t want to miss Mancos State Park.
Located just outside of Mancos, Colorado (and less than 20 minutes from Mesa Verde National Park), this southern Colorado state park is a beauty. With views of the San Juan Mountains and the towering mesas, it’s a beauty!
So let’s dive into everything you need to know about this small but beautiful state park.
Important Links (Map, State Park Website, Link to Camping Article)
Camping in Mancos State Park – Make Reservations Here
Location
Mancos State Park is located just outside the town of Mancos, CO. This 500 acre state park is less than 10 minutes outside of town and it’s a great place to get away in the southern Rockies.
The park is 40 minutes from Durango, CO, 1 hour 45 mins from Telluride, and about an hour and 10 mins from the Four Corners Monument. So if you are anywhere in this area, you can take a day trip or stay for a weekend.
Fees
Mancos State Park has a fee to enter the park, which is no different than any other Colorado State Park. Whether you walk into the park or bring a vehicle full of family/friends, there is a fee.
Daily Fees
- Vehicle Fee: $10 per vehicle (covers all vehicle occupants)
- Walk-In Individual Fee: $4 per person
Unfortunately, these daily fees DO still apply if you are camping here. So if you intend to camp at Mancos State Park for 7 days, you will be charged $10 per day ($70 total) when you arrive. This is in addition to the camping fee you have already paid.
Yes, this can add up quickly! But there is a way around these daily fees if the math makes sense for you and your family. Check it out below!
Annual Park Passes
Colorado State Parks offer several park pass options to help save you money. They offer a Family Pass for $120/year, a Vehicle Pass for $80/year, an Aspen Leaf Pass for $70/year and a Keep Colorado Wild Pass (Residents Only) for $30/year.
Each pass is good for 12 months from your purchase and allows you and a car-full of guests to enter the park for free. If you intend to visit more than a few parks, or camp for more than 8 days in a year, the vehicle pass is a great option. We bought the vehicle pass and it saved us a ton of money in 2025!
Each of these passes can be purchased in advance or in the visitor center of most state parks. For all the details, you can visit their Park Pass website.
Time to Spend Here
You might be wondering how long you should plan on staying at Mancos State Park. And if you are, you should know that Mancos is only 500 acres with 5 miles of hiking trails. So if you intend to come for a day trip to hike the trails, you’ll probably only need a few hours here.
However, if you intend to relax around a fire and go fishing for the weekend, you’ll love how quiet and relaxing this park is. I can’t see you needing more than a few days at Mancos State Park, as there isn’t a terribly large amount of things to do here. But it is great for relaxing around a fire or casting out a line.
Hiking in Mancos State Park
If you’re planning a day trip here, there are just shy of 5 miles of hiking trails. Each trail is a dirt path and is fairly well-marked. In about half a day (or less) you can hike every trail in the park, or you can just take the Black Bear Trail around the beautiful reservoir.
List of Trails
- Black Bear – 2 miles – Moderate
- Horseshoe – 0.8 miles – Easy
- Mountain Lion – 0.8 miles – Easy
- Mule Deer – 1 mile – Easy
These trails are all pretty easy and shouldn’t take you very long. If you are going with small kids, this is the perfect place to have some short hiking trails without exhausting your kiddos.
What To Do Here
The main attraction of Mancos State Park is the Jackson Gulch Reservoir. This large lake is a great place for fishing and boating. Only hand-powered crafts are allowed here, such as kayaks, canoes, sailboats, and SUP boards. Swimming is not permitted.
If hiking is the name of your game, the 5 miles of trails are well-marked and mostly shaded. In the spring there will be plenty of wild flowers and of course there are birds and wildlife to view here as well.
And for those looking for a weekend of camping, the campground is home to 33 campsites and 2 yurts. This small but beautiful state park is a great place where you can enjoy a weekend away.
Camping
There are a few different options for camping at Mancos and none of them offer running water or showers. So while the park is small but beautiful, it is also quite rustic. On the bright side, all of the ways to stay are dog friendly, so feel free to bring your pup along!
Let’s jump right into the details for the 3 ways to stay at Mancos State Park.
Main Campground (Dog Friendly)
The Main Campground at Mancos State Park is located to the left of the boat ramp. The sites are all non-electric, Basic sites and can accommodate small travel trailers and tents. (Be sure to check the size of the provided campsite before booking!)
In the Main Campground loop there are pit toilets and NO showers. There are centrally located water spigots, but no water at the sites. There is a dump station as you enter/exit the campground area.
West Side Campground (Dog Friendly)
Welcome to the most rustic way to stay with small tent only sites in the West Side Campground! These sites are nearly all waterfront and make for a beautiful way to camp in Mancos State Park.
These sites also have no water/electric hook-ups and only a centrally located pit toilet nearby. However, the views here are some of the best in the park!
Yurts (Dog Friendly…Sort of)
And last but not least we have the nicest way to stay at Mancos State Park. There are 2 Yurts that you can book. Be aware that these yurts fill up quickly, so I highly recommend booking them as soon as you know the dates of your trip!
In the yurt you will find a small table, mini fridge, microwave, a set of twin bunk beds, a Full size futon and a Queen size futon (Up to 6 people). There is electric here, but no bathroom/shower. You will have to use the nearby pit toilets and get water at the nearby spigot. Dogs are allowed in the yurts, however there is an additional $10 nightly fee per dog.
Essentially, staying in one of the yurts is just camping in a permanent tent with lights on the ceiling. You will still need to bring all your usual camping stuff, as well as linens/sleeping bags, cooking utensils, and food and water.
Price Comparison
**Disclaimer: these prices DO NOT include taxes/fees. The prices are subject to change by date or holiday.
Main Campground (Basic Sites)
- $22 per night
- $154 per week
West Side Campground (Tent Only)
- $20 per night
- $140 per week
Yurt
- $90 per night
- $630 per week
Again, these prices will probably change. But, this is to give you an idea of your budgetary needs to take a trip to Mancos State Park.
Things to do in the area
If you are planning on staying in Mancos State Park, or even if you want to pair this with something else for a day trip, you’ll love checking out a few of these nearby locations!
First up is the most impressive Mesa Verde National Park. With great hiking and incredible dwellings that you can tour, you won’t want to miss this amazing national park! (I highly recommend the Balcony House Tour – it was our favorite).
From Mancos you also aren’t far from Hovenweep National Monument or Aztec Ruins National Monument. Both are incredible places to spend a day and explore other remains from the Puebloan people!
And if you are like us and love a good cidery, you’ll love Fenceline Cider/Taphouse. Located right in Mancos, this adorable little tap house sits right on the Mancos River and has plenty of tasty cider options for everyone!
Conclusion
Colorado State Parks are known for their large mountains, lakes and beautiful views. And while Mancos State Park is rather small, it is a beautiful state park with hiking, fishing, boating and camping.
Whether you come for a few hours or a few days, this park and the surrounding area is a beautiful section of the southern rockies.
As always, feel free to email me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions.
-Happy Hiking and Camping!
Megan C.
Avid hiker and traveler around the US. I've been hiking consistently since I was 18 and I can't wait to teach you my tips, tricks and hiking hacks! Travel and hike with me and my camera.
